Afghanistan: Counter Narcotics

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What constraints they impose on commanders of United Kingdom Forces in Afghanistan regarding the use of military equipment for the eradication of poppy fields and heroin production factories.

Lord Drayson: The majority of UK forces in Afghanistan are deployed with the International Security Assistance Force under NATO leadership. NATO's operational plan enables forces to support Afghan-led operations, but not to lead on targeted counter-narcotics operations such as eradication of poppy fields or heroin production factories. These general constraints are reflected in UK forces rules of engagement. The objective of ISAF and the UK is to help the Afghans create a secure environment in their country which is an essential contribution to the eventual elimination of the Afghan opium industry.

Aircraft Registers

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are aware of a proposal for the Isle of Man to establish an aircraft register; and, if so, whether they will support the proposal.

Lord Davies of Oldham: We have been in discussion with the Isle of Man Government regarding the establishment of an aircraft register. An Isle of Man aircraft register would, for the purposes of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, be a sub-part of the UK aircraft register. As such it could operate internationally only with the approval of Her Majesty's Government. We would not object to the establishment of such a register provided that appropriate regulatory arrangements are put in place to ensure that the register would be operated in accordance with UK's obligations under the convention.

Aircraft Registers

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they continue to support the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in its promotion of the Cayman and Bermuda registers as offshore vessels of the CAA.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Civil Aviation Authority has no statutory responsibility in respect of the Bermuda and Cayman aircraft registers which are run and regulated by locally appointed Directors of Civil Aviation on behalf of the governors of those territories. The CAA's involvement in these territories is limited to providing advice, through its subsidiary company Air Safety Support International, on the standard of regulatory oversight that they provide for their registers.
	Neither the CAA nor the UK Government have ever promoted the use of these registers.

Aircraft: Foreign Registration

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why no regulatory impact assessment was undertaken on the Department for Transport's consultation for foreign registered aircraft.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Transport's consultation paper deals with the principle of whether aircraft permanently imported into the UK by UK residents should be registered in the UK. The consultation paper specifically seeks information on any costs which would be incurred if foreign registered aircraft were prevented from being based in the UK.
	If following the consultation it is decided that legislative action is needed, draft legislation and a regulatory impact assessment will be produced and a further round of consultation will take place.

Aircraft: Foreign Registration

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made any assessment of the number of foreign registered aircraft based in the United Kingdom.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The exact number of foreign aircraft based in the UK is unknown but estimates range from 500 to 1,500.
	Foreign registered aircraft fall totally outside the UK regulatory system and therefore Her Majesty's Government have no reliable record of the number based in the UK.
	The Government have issued a consultation paper on whether it is appropriate to allow foreign registered aircraft to be permanently based in the UK.

Aircraft: Safety

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies they have undertaken to compare the safety record of general aviation aircraft in the United Kingdom to that of the United States.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Civil Aviation Authority has recently compared accident statistics for general aviation in the UK and the US. This is not a straightforward process because of differences in the way that accidents are reported and classified.
	This comparison showed that in 2003, the latest year for which figures were available, the UK fatal accident rate for general aviation aeroplanes below 5,700 kg was 0.47 per 100,000 flying hours compared with 1.37 for USA. However, over the five-year period 1999-2003 the accident rates were almost identical.

Airports: Security Levy

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether airlines are required to pay a security levy per passenger at United Kingdom airports; if so, at which airports; on what basis it is required; and to what use it is put.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Airlines are not required by government to pay a security levy per passenger at United Kingdom airports.

Aviation Health: Contaminated Air

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will commission epidemiological and clinical studies of airline pilots and crew who have flown British Aerospace BAe 146 aircraft with a view to ascertaining whether pilots and crew are exposed to contaminated air; and, if so, whether chronic health effects result.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Aviation Health Working Group, an inter-departmental body founded in 2001 to consider aviation health issues, is currently assessing evidence submitted by the British Airline Pilots Association on the issue of the possible health effects of contaminated cabin air. Depending on the results of this review, being carried out by an expert toxicology committee of the Department of Health, the Government may commission research into the nature and extent of the problem.

Aviation Health: Contaminated Air

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the invitation to take part in the United States Federal Aviation Authority-funded research project into contaminated air in commercial aircraft.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government welcome the fact that in the United States the Federal Aviation Authority has agreed to fund a feasibility study of air quality in commercial aircraft, designed by the Occupational Health Research Consortium in Aviation. In the UK, the Aviation Health Working Group, an inter-departmental body founded in 2001 to consider aviation health issues, is currently assessing evidence submitted by the British Airline Pilots Association on the same topic. Depending on the results of this review, being carried out by an expert Toxicology Committee of the Department of Health, the Government may commission their own study into the nature and extent of the problem. Officials in the Department of Health are in contact with the principal investigator for the FAA study so that our respective initiatives will be co-ordinated.

Aviation Health: Contaminated Air

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why contaminated air detection systems are not fitted to all British commercial aircraft.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There are no statutory requirements for the fitting of air quality monitoring equipment in aircraft. Such equipment is not required because aircraft ventilation systems are designed to supply air of an acceptable standard. This is confirmed at initial certification and each aircraft is subject thereafter to scheduled maintenance actions to ensure those standards are maintained. Air quality monitoring exercises have confirmed the acceptability of cabin air supplied. Where problems are encountered in service these are investigated and changes are introduced as necessary.

British High Commission: New Delhi Meeting

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What matters were raised at the meeting on 5 August between officials from the British High Commission in New Delhi and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Director for Immigration and Citizenship; whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the proposed agenda and lines to take at the meeting, and of its outcome; and whether they will publish any informal response or preliminary views given by the director on any of the points raised in the Note Verbale (ref: CH342/05).

Lord Triesman: British High Commission staff and visiting officials from London arranged to call on the Director for Immigration and Citizenship on 5 August in New Delhi in order to press strongly for a response to the Note Verbale of 20 April (Ref: CH342/05). The agenda for the meeting took the form of a detailed, point by point discussion of the Note Verbale. It did not raise any individual cases.
	There was no necessity for formal lines to take as the purpose of the meeting was to reinforce with the director exactly what information the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was seeking via the Note Verbale.
	The director confirmed that the ministry was considering the points raised in the note but was unable to give any conclusive response. He informed officials that the matter would be passed to the Ministry of Law and Justice for consideration and it could be several months before a ruling is given. UK officials urged the director to treat the matter as a high priority, and the British High Commission in New Delhi continues to press for a response.
	The effective conduct of international relations depends on maintaining trust and confidence between governments and other states. This relationship allows for the free and frank exchange of information on the understanding that it will be treated in confidence. It would therefore be inappropriate to put into the public domain any informal views expressed by the director while discussions are still ongoing.
	When a formal reply is received, a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Drink Driving: Fatalities

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the fact that 590 people were killed by drink-drivers in 2004; and whether they will now reduce the permissible blood alcohol limit for drivers to zero.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The increase in drink-drive fatalities from 580 in 2003 to an estimated 590 in 2004 is disappointing, bearing in mind the downward trend in drink-related collisions and casualties overall in the past two years. It is also an indictment of the irresponsible behaviour of a small minority of drivers in this country.
	There are no plans to reduce the legal alcohol limit for drivers to zero. The Government's priority for reducing drink-drive casualties is through well targeted national publicity campaigns and effective enforcement, including the use of additional police powers for roadside testing for alcohol, as provided for in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. This will be supported by a number of provisions in the Road Safety Bill which is now before this House.

EU: Turkey

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What principal benefits to Britain and the European Union they would expect in the event of Turkey joining the European Union as a full member.

Lord Triesman: I refer the noble Lord to the Statement I gave on Turkey on 11 October (Official Report, cols. 177–79).

European Monetary System and EU Single Currency

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will outline at future meetings of European Union Finance Ministers their prospective timetable for United Kingdom adherence to the single currency.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Government policy on membership of the single currency was set out by the Chancellor in his statement to the House of Commons in October 1997, and again in the Chancellor's statement on the five tests assessment in June 2003.

European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will seek at the next European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council a discussion of the modalities of an early United Kingdom withdrawal from Iraq.

Lord Triesman: There are no plans to discuss an early United Kingdom withdrawal from Iraq at the next European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council.

Flat Tax Regime

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have considered a flat tax regime; and what is their current view on this issue.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Fairness is a key principle of the tax system and one to which this Government are firmly committed. The Government do not believe that introducing a flat tax in the UK would enhance the fairness of the tax system or the Government's economic and social objectives. The Government keep all taxes under review and any changes to taxation are considered as part of the normal Budget process.

Guantanamo Bay

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are taking steps to press the United States Government to close down the Guantanamo Bay facility.

Lord Triesman: We discuss Guantanamo Bay and related issues with the US Government regularly. The future of Guantanamo Bay is a matter for the US Government.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 21 July (WA 281) on payments so far made in respect of illnesses contracted by troops involved in the current deployment to Iraq, what would have been the cost of, and time involved in, providing the information required to answer the Question.

Lord Drayson: In order to provide the information requested by Lord Morris of Manchester, over 250 cases would need individually examining in order to establish the number and amount of payments made so far in respect of illnesses contracted by troops involved in the 2003 Gulf conflict.
	It is estimated that the cost of performing the above task would be in excess of the accepted threshold (£600) for invoking a "disproportionate effort" response.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they are giving to the research findings of the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on the health and well-being of veterans of other conflicts in their attempts to understand the still medically unexplained illnesses of British veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf War; and whether there is any action they will take on the basis of those findings.

Lord Drayson: The Government are aware of the research sponsored by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention into illness arising from conflicts including the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. We take a close interest in all such international research that is published.
	Our own approach to researching 1990–91 Gulf veterans' illnesses takes account of research undertaken elsewhere and is supported and guided by the independent Medical Research Council. We are confident that it is appropriately focused.

Iraq: C130 Hercules Crash

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to publish the findings of the investigation into the cause of the loss of the C130 Hercules and its crew on 30 January in Iraq.

Lord Drayson: The findings of the board of inquiry will be released as soon as the relevant work is complete.

Israel: West Bank

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, following the summer withdrawal from Gaza, they will make representations to the Israeli Government for near-term withdrawals from all military and civilian occupied sites in the West Bank.

Lord Triesman: The UK welcomed Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and from four settlements in the northern West Bank, and the mutual co-operation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to achieve withdrawal. Both sides should now build on that co-operation and work to maximise the benefits of disengagement and at the same time return to the road map. Both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority should make further progress on their road map commitments, which for Israel include a freeze on all settlement activity, and towards achieving a negotiated settlement. We have made representations to the Israeli Government on meeting their road map commitments on settlements, and will continue to do so. We have not made specific representations for them to go further than their road map commitments by withdrawing from all military and civilian occupied sites in the West Bank.

Lorries

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the internal and external costs and benefits of introducing longer or heavier lorries.

Lord Davies of Oldham: No detailed assessment has been made. The department is considering the benefits and disbenefits that might arise should such vehicles be permitted.

NHS: British Overseas Territories

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children from each of the British Overseas Territories, formerly British Dependent Territories, with urgent medical needs for which appropriate care was unavailable in the territory, have benefited from access to hospitals in the United Kingdom and elsewhere since the scheme to provide such access was introduced.

Lord Warner: From October 1982, the five overseas territories in the Caribbean and Atlantic which wished to have such an arrangement, were able to refer five patients each per annum to the United Kingdom National Health Service specifically to receive treatment. Most territories have made full use of this facility most years, but information on the number of these patients who were children is not available centrally.

Pilotage

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the use of a simulator of the harbour at South Shields Maritime College, Belfast, to train marine pilots to operate in Belfast will enable them to become fully qualified to pilot ships there; and, if not, for how long these pilots will be required to train in Belfast in order to gain the statutory local knowledge required by the Pilotage Act 1987 and to comply with the requirements of the Port Marine Safety Code and the recommendations of the International Maritime Organisation's Resolution A960.

Lord Davies of Oldham: It is for the competent harbour authority to determine the qualifications and experience required of maritime pilots in Belfast, including the local knowledge component required by the Act, code and IMO resolution. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has received a statement of compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code from the Belfast Harbour Commission, and this assurance includes pilotage matters.

Pilotage

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to complete and implement the national occupational standards for maritime pilots, recommended in the report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch into the Sea Empress accident in Milford Haven eight years ago.

Lord Davies of Oldham: National occupational standards for marine pilots were introduced by the then British Ports Industry Training organisation, (now superseded by Port Skills and Safety Limited), in July 2000. These standards have been adopted by many of the competent harbour authorities.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has been actively engaged in work on translating the national occupational standards into an underpinning national qualification with Port Skills and Safety Limited and anticipate completing a port marine foundation degree framework in spring 2006.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: asked the Leader of The House:
	What action she will take to ensure that government departments abide by the two-week deadline for answering Written Questions in view of the fact that on 11 October 16 questions tabled between 12 and 17 weeks ago remained unanswered; and
	Whether, in view of the fact that nine out of the 10 Written Questions tabled before the Summer Recess, which remained unanswered on 13 October, have been allocated to the Home Office, she will meet the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office to discuss the management of Parliamentary Questions and the deadlines for answering them.

Baroness Amos: When the House rose on 21 July, 121 Questions remained unanswered. Over the recess 109 of these were answered. The 16 outstanding Questions printed in Hansard on 11 October did not include four answered Questions which had been sent to the relevant Peer but had not reached Hansard.
	The Home Office currently has eight questions outstanding. I am currently reviewing the processes employed by departments to answer Questions, with the aim of speeding up responses.

Rail Safety and Standards Board: Ufton Nervet

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which recommendations of the Rail Safety and Standards Board in respect of the Ufton Nervet level crossing accident remain to be implemented; and who will provide the funding for this work.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Rail Safety and Standards Board produces an annual summary report for its website showing the status of all formal inquiry recommendations. The position on each of the Ufton Nervet recommendations will be set out in the report for 2005 in due course.
	The funding of the recommendations is a matter for the organisation to whom the particular recommendation is directed.

Small Arms: International Treaty

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they propose to take on developing an international treaty, under the authority of the United Nations, for the control of the global sale of small arms, as recently agreed by European Union Foreign Ministers.

Lord Triesman: On 3 October the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union "acknowledged the growing support, in all parts of the world, for an international treaty" which would "establish common standards for the global trade in conventional arms". The proposed treaty would therefore not control the trade only in small arms, but would have a wider remit to include large weapons platforms. The Council further encouraged "all states, regional organisations and multilateral institutions to join the growing international consensus for action in this area". The UK will continue to work actively for such a treaty, including in the relevant multilateral institutions, by building broad-based support for a formal negotiating process, within the UN framework.

Somalia: Piracy

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What reports they have received about the hijacking of commercial vessels by pirates operating from Somali territory; and whether they will seek a mandate from the United Nations Security Council to station naval forces off the coast and to use force against pirates and land-based entities which shelter them.

Lord Triesman: We are aware of the hijacking of the merchant vessels "Semlow", "Ibn Batuta" and "MV Torgelow" in Somali waters. After being detained for some time, the "Semlow" has been released and her crew freed. The International Maritime Bureau has logged some 20 attacks on ships in Somali waters since March.
	We take a very serious view of piracy along the Somali coast, but we do not believe that a UN mandate to use force would address the root causes of this problem or the wider problems of lawlessness within Somalia. We are working closely with the international community to promote the establishment of an effective government in Somalia. We believe that only by assisting the return of Somalia to stability, good governance and the rule of law can piracy, terrorism and other forms of criminal activity be brought under control.

Sudan: African Union

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the government of Sudan about claims made by the African Union (a) that government security forces have attacked refugee camps and compounds that house African Union troops in the Tawilla district of Darfur; and (b) that attacks have included government helicopter gunships.

Lord Triesman: We await the results of the African Union's (AU) investigation into these incidents. The UK has issued EU presidency statements condemning recent incidents in Darfur. I visited the Sudan from 5 to 8 October and raised the security situation in Sudan with the government of Sudan.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they are making about the pattern of harassment, attacks and the abduction of non-governmental organisation workers in Darfur.

Lord Triesman: We make regular representations to all parties in the Darfur conflict on the harassment, abduction and attacks on non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers in Darfur. During my visit to Sudan on 5 to 8 October I met NGOs in Darfur and heard their views on the security situation there which is severely hampering the humanitarian relief effort. I raised these issues directly with the Sudanese Government and the African Union, pressing the importance of improving the security situation there and allowing NGO workers to operate freely.
	The past two weeks have seen a significant increase in attacks and harassment of NGO workers in Darfur. Reports indicate that these attacks have been conducted by both bandits and armed movements. Humanitarian operation is critical in supporting the civilians in Darfur, and any attacks on NGOs put their work in jeopardy and limits access to those who need assistance.

Sudan: United Nations Peace Support Mission

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in deploying the 10,000 strong United Nations peace support mission to Sudan.

Lord Triesman: Deployment of the UN peace support mission to Sudan is continuing, with 2,742 military personnel deployed on 5 October, and with a further 475 expected to arrive by 12 October. Deployment has been slower than expected due to the rainy season and delays from troop-contributing countries. The UN currently expects full deployment of the mandated 10,000 military personnel and up to 715 civilian police by the end of 6 November.

United Nations Firearms Protocol

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What positive results came from the international conference held in New York in July on the United Nations Firearms Protocol and related arms control issues.

Lord Triesman: The Government continue to work with the European Commission and other member states on the implementation of the provisions in the UN Firearms Protocol. We are unaware of any meeting about this that took place in New York last July.

Working Time Directive: Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they propose to take to ensure that heavy goods vehicle drivers working for agencies and those domiciled abroad conform to the working time directive.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Heavy goods vehicle drivers employed by agencies are subject to the requirements of Directive 2002/15/EC in the same way as any other in-scope drivers.
	The implementing regulations are enforced in Great Britain by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA)—primarily in response to specific complaints they receive.
	The enforcers' response will be proportionate, with an initial onus on educating employers and employees rather than prosecution. In most cases, it is anticipated that the act of following-up a specific complaint or concern will be enough to ensure compliance. However, if, it appears that a driver is not complying, VOSA or DVTA may initiate formal enforcement action—for example, they can use:
	improvement notices—for instance, to notify an employer of a likely breach of the regulations and to set out the changes that need to be made in a given timescale, or,
	prohibition notices for instance, requiring a driver to stop a dangerous activity.
	Ultimately, an offender can be prosecuted in Court and, if found guilty, will be sentenced.
	At the roadside, breaches of the working time rules with a road safety impact will produce parallel breaches of drivers' hours rules. VOSA, DVTA and the police can take action against foreign drivers who offend. The primary sanction in such cases is the prohibition notice. A prohibition notice will stop the driver in question from continuing his or her journey, until any breach of the rules has been rectified.
	Details of all prohibition notices issued to foreign drivers and/or operators are reported to the licensing authority in the offending vehicle operator's country of origin.
	The Road Safety Bill includes powers for the police and VOSA to issue fixed penalty notices in respect of drivers' hours offences. Drivers without a suitable UK address will be required to pay immediately a deposit equal to the amount of the penalty notice.